biophase

I get home yesterday and I'm missing a small rectangular flap on the back of my SL500. It's a small plastic hinge that covers the roof opening hinge when the top is down making the entire back look smooth. It looks like the plastic hinge was held on by 3 small plastic parts and that they broke up. The part must have flown off while I was driving down the highway.

Anyone have this happen before?

gearshifter

LOL how does that happen?! i mean if the flap is down when you are driving with the top down...

You mustve somehow improperly opened your top

biophase

It's down but if the hinge is busted the wind will take it right off.

velvet fog

Search the R230 forum, someone had the same problem not too long ago.

mkirincic

This is a common problem with this model. If you search the thread you will see several solutions.

I had the same issue on my 03. When I contacted people that were parting out cars, it appears that everyone of them had the similar issue because all of them were missing that part or it was damaged.

A new part cost in the $300 range plus installation.

Benz5656

You have got to be kidding right $300.00 for this small piece? What upsets me is that it appears that the hinge itself is plastic so there is no way to repair it.

mkirincic

you cannot just purchase the small missing part you have to purchase the complete mating part as well.

you can search this forum to find solutions on fixing the damaged part.

bob55

Better hope it did fall off rather than dropping down into the mechanism itself. Even if you retrieve the part, it is worthless because it is supposed to be permanently attached to a larger part. What happens is the cheap plastic sheath covering the spring mechanism cracks and splits, allowing the shaft that holds the spring to slip out detaching the part. It will cost over $500 to repair it at an Authorized MB Dealer Service Facility.

flyjets01

Cheapest I bought it for was $260 USD.

It's a poor design by MB

Ian

mkirincic

where did you get the part from for that price?

flyjets01

I usually buy from these places here are the links.

http://www.getmercedesparts.com/

http://www.parts.com/index.cfm?action=stores

http://www.genuinemercedesparts.com/...?siteid=215306

Sorry I can't be more specific but I am traveling on business.

Ian

GET TUBED

Being plastic the little tabs that hold them to the main piece break .

Quite a few lucky owners have found them laying inside the trunk .

Should you be lucky search fixes for a repair at the forums .

anjy834u

That definitely sounds like a result of improper opening of the roof. i am afraid you'll have to buy new parts for the same. the other thing worrying is you get those flaps again, the one you broke. I think it comes in a package and not separately.

neomonkey

I'm not sure how you can improperly open the roof by pressing a button.

allimport

if the car was salvaged at one time(wrecked then put back together) and the builder did not put it back together properly those kind of things will happen.

lkirchner

It is not improperly opening the roof, or the car was wrecked and put back together improperly or sun spots. This is a common ailment on these cars and there have been some good do it yourself solutions if you have the flap. If not you have to buy the entire assembly where the flap is located.

Floridaheli

I had the same problem did a LOT of searching. My local dealer was willing to give me a 10% discount off the $368 price tag. This put the price at 354.39 after tax.

I then found one on a 2006 with an intact hinge and door. The only problem was the fabric had a cut in it and the pin that goes in the pointed end of the door was broken off the panel. It just had too much wear and neglect to put on my 2005 SL with less than 20,000 miles on it.

By the way this is called a "panel" by Mercedes and the official part number for my car, silver with charcoal interior, is 230-690-09-41-9C83.

I tried several repairs, the last being tying wire around the hinge. I just was not satisfied with the result.

So, then I decided I was going to buy a new one. Just had to find the right seller. flyjets01 above set me on to Parts.com. They set me on to 3 buyers all less than $300. However when you added in their shipping and handling, up to $38, then the price went over $300. Finally I found Mercedes-Benz of Naperville, Ill, 630-305-4560 and Joe Messineo, Parts guy. He sold me the panel for $283.50, no tax or shipping.

So, if you need parts, especially a 230-690-09-41-9C83, call Joe.

I’ve attached a parts blow up. Part no 370 is the panel with the hinge in it.

Good luck.

mbamg230

I just purchased an '06 sl 55 and both of those little doors have weak springs, such that after lowering the roof they stay open; you can just tap them and they fall down but I think when driving the wind can flap them around, so that is probably how they get lost, they get blown off at higher speeds! Checked with MBZ and they said cannot fix the little door, replace the entire panel for $400 each! Ouch. So it seems no one has come up with a fix for the spring?

GET TUBED

True , it is most common that the plastic tabs break .

Is spring be broken or missed aligned ? The ends of the springs , as you may know , need to wrap behind the tabs in order to apply their " springiness ".

Perhaps adding a weight with a piece of tape to the bottom of the flap would keep it down ?

mbamg230

Thanks, not being very mechanically inclined I could not tell if the spring was misaligned, it does not appear to be broken, so will have to check again. I like the weight idea but concerned if it fell off someday into the mechanism I could have bigger problems! The MB service guy suggested putting some velcro tape on it to hold it down, but that would be tacky looking...I will check the springs again. You would think it would be so easy to take that little cover off, replace or realign the spring and put it back. It must have been put on there, so it must be removable from the bottom perhaps..thanks!

jjsaustin

Hi I just purchased a car where the cover/flap came off. The stealer wants $500 to replace it. I am wondering if anyone has replaced it and how difficult it was. I did a search, but came up empty. Maybe I don't know what these are called and using the wrong search terms.

Thank you for your help.

lkirchner

The part is shown under Quarter Panel, Interior Trim and it is called the side cover. You can get it on Parts.com or OEdiscountparts.com. Parts .com has good prices but the shipping and handling are absurd. On the OEdiscountparts site the price is $283 but shipping and handling is free.

It takes about 20 minutes in total to remove and install the new piece. There are 2 clips , 1 screw that hold it on. 1 Bolt to loosen and the removal of the silver end cap that you see at the front of the rear window. You should probably buy the clips as well since they do break easily.

If you go the DIY route let me know and I can scan the instructions to you.
.

jjsaustin

That would be very much appreciated. I will pm my email address to you.

Thank you!

-Jim

playdo

I'm in the same situation. If you do scan the the instructions, can you please send me a copy.

Thank you in advance.

lkirchner

PM your email to me.